Picture-frame



"(no ModL).

-P -.-W. LOWE; PICTURE FRAME.

Patented'Feb 7. 1888 XSKIKMMQL m gains, Mlmmphen wmmm. D: a

, UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK w. LOWE, OF BOSTON, MAssAoHUsETTs.

PICTURE-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,567, dated February 7, 1888.

Application filed February 14, 1887. Serial No. 227,589. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. LOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frames for Pictures, Slates, and such like Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a frame for pictures, slates, and such articles which combines simplicity of construction, facility of application, and protection for the edge of the. picture or other article placed therein.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of this improved picture-frame. Fig. 2 represents a serpentine wire blank, which constitutes, when folded longitudinally, a segment of this improved picture-frame. Fig. 3 represents transverse sections in different forms of the body of this improved pictureframe. Fig. 4 represents a segment of this improved picture-frame constructed of wire having a fibrous or elastic coating.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

This improved picture-frame A comprises a series of U-shaped loops, a, composed of a continuous wire. These U-shaped loops are arranged adjacent to one another and form a continuous groove, b, on the inside of the frame, in which the edge of the picture is inserted. Each loop comprises an arm, 1, on the front side of the frame and an arm, 2, on the rear side thereof, connected by an arch, 3, at the outer edge of the frame. The front arm of each of the loops is integrally connected at its inner end by the curved wire 3 with the front arm of the adjacent loops, and the rear arm of the same loop is integrally connected at the rear of the frame by a corresponding curved portion of thelwire with the rear arm of the adjacent loop.

The loops may be either square or rounded at their outer ends, as shown in Fig. 3. The meeting ends of the wire are preferably twisted together and into the form of an eye, 0, at the center of the upper end of the frame,which eye serves forhanging the picture.

In frames for slates the eye 0 will be omit: ted, and the ends of the wire will bebrought together and secured by any suitable clasp or fastening device.

The wire'of which the frame is composed maybe provided with a fibrous or elastic coat- -scribing witnesses.-

ing, d, if desired,-as shown in Fig. 4, so that the frame will be comparatively noiseless. The coated wire is preferably used in frames for slates. I

The corners of the frame are preferably rounded, as shown in Fig. 1. In forming these frames a piece of wire is first bent into aserpentine blank, as shown in Fig. 2. This blank is then bent orfolded longitudinally into U shape, as shown in Fig. 3.

In placing the picture in the frame the latter will be stretched or expanded both longitudinally and laterally for the admission of the picture, and then compressed, so that the edge of the picture rests in the continuous groove formed by the contiguous or adjacent U-shaped loops. In case the frame is made of wire which is comparatively rigid the picture may be bent for insertion in the frame,

or the ends of the wire composing the frame may be untwisted, the frame opened, the picture inserted, the frame closed thereon, and the ends of the wire retwisted or connected.

I claim as my invention- 1. A pictureframe consisting of a series of adjacent U-shaped loops forming a continuous groove on the inside of the frame for the reception of the picture, said loops being composed of a continuous wire, the arms of each loop being integral with the adjoining arms of adjacent loops, substantially asdescribed.

2. A pictureframe consisting of a series of adjacent U-shaped loops forming a continuous groove on the inside of the frame for the reception of the picture, said loops being composed of a continuouswire, the arms of each loop being integral with the adjoining arms of adjacent loops, the ends of the continuous wire being coiled into an eye at the top of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A picture-frame consisting of a series of adjacent U-shaped loops forming a continuous groove on the inside of the frame for the reception of the picture, said loops'being composed of a continuous coated wire, the arms of each loop being integral with the adjoining arms of adjacent loops, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name I to this specification in the presence of two sub- FRANK W. LOWE.

Witnesses: L. W. Howns, E. PLANTA. 

